Wondering how to pay for metro and bus rides in Bermuda - cash only, or do cards work too?
The ferry ride from Dockyard to St. George’s was one of the highlights of my trip. Tickets are included if you buy the unlimited bus/ferry pass from Hamilton Bus Terminal. I stayed at Greenbank Guesthouse in Paget, and the owner actually gave me the tip to buy a weekly pass for $6Worth every cent. I didn’t need to fumble with coins, and I could ride buses out to Warwick Long Bay and then catch the ferry back into Hamilton. For such a small island, the system is easy once you know where to buy the passes.
Honestly, Bermuda buses were colorful and fun - loved riding the pink buses down South Shore Road past Elbow Beach. I usually paid in cash, dropping $3.50 in coins into the box. No change is given, so I always made sure to break my notes at Lindo’s supermarket in Warwick before heading to the bus stop. Once I missed the last ferry at Dockyard and had to bus it all the way back to Hamilton. It was packed with locals and school kids, but safe and easy. Bring small USD notes or coins and you’ll be fine.
I got on a bus from St. George’s to Hamilton with only a $20 bill in my pocket. The driver wasn’t happy, and nobody on board had change. He finally waved me through but told me to buy a booklet of tickets next time. Honestly, Bermuda transport is great, but not being able to tap a card feels outdated. Even the ferry from Dockyard to Hamilton still wants tokens or exact change. If you’re staying near guesthouses in Paget or Warwick, definitely stop at a post office or Hamilton terminal first - they sell passes and save you all this hassle.
When I stayed in Hamilton, I learned quickly that you can’t hop on a bus and just pay by card. At the Central Bus Terminal on Washington Street, they sell tokens and day passes. I bought a 3-day pass for about $19 USD and it covered every bus and ferry, including the pink sand beaches like Horseshoe Bay and the ferry to Dockyard. Drivers will take exact cash too, but only in USD or BMD coins and small notes. No change given. Honestly, just get the pass at the start - saves you standing around worrying about coins.